Film Connection's Student Success Stories

Every week, the Film Connection Film School receives dozens of honest reviews from our current film students and graduates. Regardless of location, one thing is consistent: our Film Students are getting what they paid for.

We understand that many of you want to be the next big shot film director or screenwriter. Make no mistake, that comes with time. The Film Connection is the perfect launching pad to help you realize your bigger dreams for filmmaking. You have to start somewhere. Why not start working where you live in a film company as a film apprentice today.

Our student success stories are indicative of the primary goal of the Film Connection Film Institute- The success of our students. Here’s to your success!

Learn on the Job While Working with Real Professionals

Chelsy Jensen, New York, NY
"The first couple weeks he (my mentor) had me right away building my website, getting business cards, connecting me with some people through email so that was a great opportunity and then he had me reading scripts and then once I really found the script that I felt really strongly about I contacted Tom, my mentor, we wrote up an auction, we had a couple of writers sign up and then from there I was posting jobs on Craigslist, on any website that I could find and he actually had another director that he had worked with so we interviewed with a couple directors… Read More

Checking in with Graduate Korey Hehn

Korey Hehn, Princeville, OR
Right after I graduated from the Film Connection I went to Colorado to work on a series a web series, I was the script supervisor for that and I did hair and makeup as well. It was a pretty small crew and small cast but it was super fun and I got a feel for what it was like to be on a film or on a TV series but it was a tiny, tiny one. Read More

Find Work After Graduating

Stephen Blanquie, Portland, OR
We asked Stephen Blanquie, a recent graduate of the Film Connection in Portland, OR to share what he is doing now that his lessons in the studio are over. Read More

Learn Hands On From the People who Do the Hiring

Celisa Meals, Denton, TX
Congratulations to Celisa Meals! After completing her apprenticeship with the Film Connection her mentor hired her to join a project with his production company! Read in her own words about her experience and the steps she took to secure this opportunity. Read More

Put What you Learn into Practice

Korey Hehn, Princeville, Oregon
As a young girl I have also always wanted to be a writer. So as I worked my way through High School I really tried to figure out what I was going to do with my life, coming to the realization that I really wanted to be a part of making movies. You see, films have such a profound impact on the people who watch them: Even if a person does not like the movie they happen to watch, they will always remember at least little pieces of it because of the undeniable ability of moving pictures to permeate thoughts. Read More

Build your resume as you learn on the job!

Janna Russell, Atlanta, Georgia
Once I joined the Film Connection program everything for me really took off. Before I knew it, and was even a graduate of the program, I had already begun building my resume filled with production experience for several music videos, as well as actually have been paid for my work as a production coordinator! The exposure during the Film Connection course of the apprenticeship and the knowledge I acquired is invaluable. I would not have had the same experience in the classroom alone.Read More

Some students get paid work right after graduation!

Austin Willard, Brooklyn, New York
The studio hired me after I graduated The Film Connection. I was hired on as Production Manager/Studio Manager. I work every day and was fortunate enough to work many more shoots. I am booking Green Screen rentals and showing our facilities to clients. I also work as a Producer on two commercial short films, along with Production Manager for many others. I am still with the studio, and also doing freelance work as a Production Manager and as a Grip. Read More

Work with your mentor around your busy schedule:

Charla Mascagni, New Orleans, LA
The Film Connection provides me an affordable opportunity to work in a hands-on environment with my very own MENTOR, while offering me the flexibility to work around my job schedule! I have to admit at first, I was a little skeptical because I didn’t know what to expect. However, after meeting my mentor and going to my first television series film shoot, I knew I was on the right track and had made the right decision for my career.Read More

Learn Camera and Lighting on the Job

Derek Sorenson, Albuquerque, New Mexico
I have learned a multitude of skills while under my mentor’s tutelage. It started with how to utilize lighting and work a studio camera. I moved on to understanding how to set up and take the correct shots. I have also been honing my editing skills with Final Cut Pro under a professional whose expertise is editing. My mentor and I have developed a positive relationship in and outside of work. Not only have I gone on several shoots with my mentor, but he also has me actively working in his video business. Read More

Graduate Gerald Vogt now works on feature films

Gerald Vogt, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Once I made the decision to the join the Film Connection I jumped right on in. The first course I took within the Film Connection was specifically to focus on editing. My training really developed my skills in both sides of the production by tying both pre-production and post-production together. As the course continued I began to see my skills really start to take shape, with my mentor pushing me in directions that made me stronger. Also, on the places where I was weaker, they really helped me out. Anytime I had questions, I would go back to my curriculum assigned through the program and there the answer was. Read More

Trent's mentor offered him a position at his studio:

Trent Jones, Austin, Texas
While in the Film Connection program I have had some great help from my mentor to get me through all of the assignments, and being able to work in a real studio has been amazing. Each lesson was easy to understand and I was also given many different books so if I couldn’t figure out the answer in my workbook I had a variety of resources to help me study. One of my favorite books that I was given was a Brief History Of Film. I was fascinated by how far the world of filming has progressed over the years and it really has opened my eyes to all of the different genres I had been missing out on for so very long. I began to learn the inner workings of an office and also started to get hands on experience with many different kinds of editing software. Read More

More Student Success Stories

“My mentor has had several clients recently: a TV crew from Britain, a photographer, and an accountant that we will be shooting some stuff for. I am kinda excited about the latter, he says I will get to work on that one!”

I actually got the job and I am now working as a Studio Camera Operator for News Channel 5 in West Palm Beach. I am so happy and I just wanted to thank Film Connection for all that they have provided so I can get the skills and experience I needed to help me get this position.

“Thank you for the one of the greatest experiences of my life. My mentor is an awesome guy with great professionalism and knowledge!”

“My mentor has been amazing, and continues to check in with me and give advice, even when we are swamped with production work. I continue to find this program to be enlightening and fulfilling. And sometimes stressful, but that’s the business.”

“The last lesson was extremely interesting from the point of view that it dealt with coping with crew members and cast, their unique personalities, and how to maximize performance and work output. It was a real eye-opener in the sense that it got you to explore your own personality and find a common-ground upon which to work efficiently and minimize conflict. It brought home the reality that as a filmmaker you may have to provide leadership to a large number of people. The assignment highlighted the traits required to pull this off successfully.”

“In this week’s session we continued to explore editing with two separate projects that we filmed several weeks ago. I was able to continue to input some ideas that I have and contribute more to both projects. I am continuing to learn new techniques and different methods of editing. I have come to realize that editing in itself is not particularly difficult only that learning how to edit and becoming a professional demands the time input above all else. The longer a person edits the more skilled they will become and I am excited to continue on this journey. The lesson this week covered storyboards and the director’s workbook. We are now exploring the position of a director, a position that Jack specializes in. Our sessions are becoming more interesting as we go along and I am still learning substantial amounts about film production just in more detail. We are also working with other artists in the area that my mentor knows. Through these new people I am meeting, I am getting more contacts and learning from others in the business as well.

I am really enjoying the process, the hard work, and the time spent trying to figure things out.”

“Today was a learning experience for sure. While doing our video that we shot from the week before, we decided we needed to do voiceovers. The studio where we were at, however, was being used, so we were unable to use those microphones and record them. So like a real filmmaker, when we encountered a problem like this, we thought out of the box for an alternative idea. We went into a quiet room, set up a camera very close to the person speaking, and recorded voiceovers for every scene. Then we went back to edit it. It was an interesting lesson and I learned a lot from it, especially learning how to cope with situations.”

“I’m almost nearing the end of this program and I can already say that I learned a whole lot doing this, more than I learned going to college!”

“My mentor advised me to pay attention, and be engaged in how you edit – listen to the words. Editing happens in your head. Knowing every word is key to putting it in a nice sequence. There are no small jobs in this business, you should leave yourself notes when logging video and make it as if you’ve never seen it before. I really appreciated this advice.”

“Through this program I have been introduced to many aspects of film production unknown by me before the beginning of my study. The incoming flow of information has been consistent leading me to learn at a fast pace. The experience only gets better as time goes on. There is always something new and interesting. I know Jack really wants to see me as well as his other students succeed. All we have to do is show up and put in the work, at his studio and at home. I am able to ask questions and am given any help that I could possibly need. I’m far from being a professional but this path that I am taking will certainly help to get me there.

The work is hard but exciting and rewarding. As my experience grows and my skills improve I am looking forward to the remainder of the program. The weeks we are approaching are filled with big assignments, allowing me to do more. This program is allowing me to learn my craft, meet quality people and do amazing work. After only eight weeks I know attending The Film Connection is one of the best decisions that I have made.”

“We actually just finished a short film, last week. I was producing with Sam (mentor) we had just competed a feature film script. We had an audition with actors and actresses and we are ready to start our project in 2013 (Titled: ‘Live Free OR Die’ to be partially shot in Egypt.). We also have some projects on April, May and June of this year. A short film and another feature film, Sam will be directing and I will be assisting. This will start shooting in May, and in June I will be directing another short film (Titled: ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’)”

“I started going to college for film production, but as time went on I realized that I wasn’t gaining the knowledge or making the right connections I knew I would need if I wanted to achieve my goals. I needed to find something that would provide a “hands on” learning experience, as well as opportunities to work with people who were already in the industry. That’s when I started looking into The Film Connection.”

“I just got to work on a local commercial and it was exciting as all hell. We set up a series of shots using car mounted Digital Recorders and a few ground shots, one using a rubber track for a rolling camera shot. I learned about equipment like the car mount and its support, I also handled the rubber tracking and learned of its delicate nature and the importance of it being lined up thoroughly correct.”

“I’m beginning to feel more comfortable with the camera and I’m continuing to learn techniques for future use. My mentor also taught me several techniques during the editing session that helped me to get acclimated to the software. This was my first time editing and it will take time to get used to the process. The skill of editing is something that I look forward to developing as my apprenticeship continues”

Receive invaluable personalized advice from a film industry professional.

“I had fun doing the lesson on script coverage with my mentor, it really taught me a lot to look at a script from a critical stand point and talk to him about it.”

– Hiram Smith, Bethany, MO

Learn hands-on from day one.

“My first day was awesome! I got to meet allot of talented people and see the workings of a real shoot.”

– Hiram Smith, Bethany, MO

Learn on the set.

“More and more I am getting acclimated to what being on a set is like, learning techniques and expanding on them. I feel that I am learning a bit of everything and the knowledge keeps pouring in.”

– Brian Hobday, Hampton, VA

The best way to learn film is under the guidance of real filmmakers.

“I’m able to learn a lot easier than I used to learn in community college and now I finally like what I’m doing. I have been more motivated to do stuff and now I can’t wait to go further and write my script.”

– Anthony DeFrancisco, Bellmawr, NJ

Real shoots, real projects.

“My mentor told me I will get to be on set for the shooting of an independent horror movie this coming Wednesday! This is great news. I am appreciative that he is giving me this opportunity right out of the gate.”

– Hiram Smith, Bethany, MO

Real shoots, real projects.

“On Friday, Jim, the producer, invited me to a Jack Nicklaus shoot at The Bears Club in Jupiter, Florida. After the shoot was over, I helped pack up the equipment and the Director of Photography was telling all these Jack Nicklaus stories he had working with him. It was a lot of fun and I hope to have stories like that one day.”

– Joseph Lamia, Delray Beach, FL

Learn from the pros.

“My mentor is very knowledgeable and passionate about what he does, only motivating me more.”

– Brian Hobday, Hampton, VA

Learn the fundamentals as you apprentice.

“My mentor and I have been getting along great, he has been showing me different little things as far as editing and shooting techniques. We have discussed lighting and many different things about film.”

– Joe DeLucia, Shelbyville, TN

Learn on the job with Film Connection.

“All I can say right now is I am very excited at how far I’ve come with the help of ‘The Film Connection’ and that I am very glad I came across this school online.”

– Iris Chinchilla, Las Vegas, NV

Real shoots, real projects.

“Man, oh man, what a week this has been! I get to the loading dock, to help put stuff in the film truck, and I find out from the man in charge of this shoot, that we are going to the beach for an Ambervision Sunglasses commercial and I would be doing the teleprompter.

– Joseph Lamia, Delray, FL

Learn Film Editing on the Job

“What i like most here is the editing… because that was my goal when i came, and i am definitely learning a lot about editing. Other thing we do a lot is green screen, which I enjoyed. I also worked as a video camera for Bret in a project, and this is something i really like and i am good doing.”

– Camila Castello, Bellville, IL

Learn hands-on with your mentor’s guidance.

“I am incredibly grateful for the experience. The Film Connection is so unique and a terrific find especially for me and my younger brother who have spent so much of our schooling career in a less than conventional setting. Continuing to pursue our education in such a ‘hands-on’ manner has been excellent.”

“From a practical point of view I have most definitely left the program with a broader understanding of the industry. This has been learned through time spent in the studio, time spent on various shoots, and also through the reading and video materials that the Film Connection has provided. “

– Chloe Baker, Elkton, MD

Shoot real projects with professional equipment.

“This week we went to ORU Convention Center and helped set up and shoot an interview segment with the Coach of the ORU men’s basketball team for an Explore Tulsa episode. I learned a lot from being allowed to operate the camera.”

– Aaron White, Tulsa, OK

Learn Final Cut Pro while working on real projects.

“We are still to work on the music video from the shoot filmed in December. I’m continuing to become familiarized, even somewhat proficient, on Final Cut Pro 6.”

– Chloe Baker, Baltimore, MD

“This week I had to research and get information on a skin care product we are doing a promo video for, and I will be able to edit and do the graphics for the video next week. Also I am going to get work from the zombie web series I worked on previously, as an editor on the new season.”

“My mentor is showing me the importance of editing and the skills that come with it.”

“Even though it’s my second week, I’m already having a great time working with the mentors at my production company.”

“On Saturday I’m going to a video shoot to do some camera setup and running as well, I am excited to be looking for cast and crew for my short films and hope it goes well.”

Learn new skills no matter how much previous experience you’ve had.

“I felt a little too confident because of my past experience at other production companies that I interned at while in college. Now I know I have to act as a rookie in the film/TV business so I can learn everything that I can with an open mind. I cannot wait for my next lesson next week because Tood and Jim said I am going to start doing hands-on work.”

– Joseph Lamia, Delray Beach, FL

Learn on the Job

“My first day, we went to a museum to shoot an opera for kids. I really enjoyed the show. We set up camera & sound. I filmed the pianist after the show & the editor will add her throughout. All in all, I had a great time.”

– Lacia Kay, Anaco, LA

Work on real Hollywood projects with your mentor.

“It’s been such an amazing journey and a great learning experience. Today we discussed the next steps for The Closing we are filming the rest of it on the 5th for the SAG actors because we have to sign up with SAG. Tom mentioned a website for festivals called withoutabox.com. We fixed my resume and he mentioned that he emailed production companies, Producers and DP’s for potential job opportunities just waiting to hear back from them.”

– Chelsy Jensen, Stansbury Park

A learning experience based on experience.

“Peter is very meticulous when it comes to the homework and I’m so glad I have such a great mentor who makes sure I fully understand everything I’m learning. He gives me real life examples from his own career which really enhance my learning experience.”

– Dominic Matich, Rochester Hills, MI

Learn the right tool for the job…even an old tool.

“Today we learned about microphones, condenser mics, Dynamic mics. Each mic has its own use and purposes, for live application, we use the Dynamics mic. For studio we use the condenser mic. Different mics might have different frequency pick up. My Mentor had show me about 40 of his mics and some of them are really antique, but professional. We’re still using them in modern technology, just because they have their unique own sound.”

– Trinh Vo, Houston, TX

Get professional shoot experience, not just school shoot experience.

“The first day of this week, I went with Adventure Productions on a shoot for the Home Depot. This was the most important shoot I had been a part of I helped some but learned a lot from the producers there. They showed me how to set up shots using one camera and making it look like multiple. I also paid attention to how they got the person on camera to act. They were very personable to get the talents best reactions to the questions. I helped set up lights and carry equipment that day, and learned a lot!”

– Michael Frederick, Wrightsville, PA

The inspiration of mentorship.

“I am more motivated than ever before because I can already see an enormous improvement in my writing skills, understanding of film and screenplays, and my understanding of the movie business because my mentor and I have a boxer / trainer relationship. Now that might not work with others but for me as the apprentice I couldn’t be happier.”

– Dominic Matich, Rochester Hills, MI

Apply what you’re learning to your own work immediately.

“I greatly enjoy the journey I’m on and the knowledge I’m acquiring on the way to becoming a professional screenwriter. I trust in my mentor and his guidance which have led me to redoing many parts of my script and they turned out much, much better.”

– Dominic Matich, Rochester Hills, Michigan

Ease into the world of film from the ground up.

“My first day, I was very nervous. I was given a script to breakdown. I was able to get it done within the day, but I brought it home to double check my work. On my second day, I was given to script. The first one, I was asked to read it & write a summary about it & give my personal opinion about the script. The second script, I was asked to breakdown again. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my first week at the film studio & can’t wait until next week!!”

– Lacia Kay, Anacoco

Have confidence in your education.

“I have no concerns as I am sure I am in the most helpful hands…You and all the professionals from this program have displayed to me courtesy and expedience that enhance the feeling that I am in the best hands with the best people.”

– Dominic Matich, Rochester Hills, Michigan

Get to know your potential future employers.

“We are still wrapping up a movie. I am in the office from nine to five, helping the production coordinator with paperwork. I do it all here, from deal memos to checks and errands. We are all pretty much “buddies” in the office right now. So far I’m loving the studio! From the recent movie I have learned so much on set. I was pretty much a PA on set, met so many great people. The wrap party was just great! I got a chance to meet the actors and the crew, so that was cool.”

– Huan Tran, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Work around the clock to learn how to become a professional in the Film industry.

“One day this week, I set up a shoot in the stage, set lights worked with Art department, also working as a dolly Griped for the DP. A few days later I had my one-on-one Lesson time with my mentor, then started editing a reel for the Director himself! The next day I went over the next assignment my mentor, then worked some more hands-on, editing the reel for another director in the Company. The remainder of this day I helped with Pre Pro for shoot that is fast approaching in the near future. Then the next day I went on location for a shoot, call time 12 noon, helped set lights and ran smoke machines, struck lights and rapped shoot with crew, long day. We got done at 4 am, returned smoke machines and 4k ballast back to rental house! I love the production company and my mentor. I had no clue about FCP before I started this course and the team I’m working with is amazing and so helpful. They always critique in a way that is helpful and kind. The course lays out the ground work in a simple and concise way that I feel anyone could understand.”

– Gerald Vogt, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Work with the leading professionals in the film industry.

“I went on another shoot with my mentor this Wednesday that was for Wells Fargo. There was a sort of “career day” for multiple students from different high schools. My job was to tail the students that were coming to check out the Wells Fargo bank in downtown, Albuquerque. This was being done all around the country so Wells Fargo could have multiple tapes to form into one “feature” to show how what they are doing for high school students. When we got inside I learned about White balance, and how a shot can be ruined unless it is checked whenever you are entering a differently lit area with a camera. I followed them, room to room as the students were run through the different opportunities Wells Fargo offered like college payments. My mentor and I then went to a private room to allow a young woman, who had set up the whole little event at this particular bank, to conduct an interview with one of the gentlemen who took part in talking with the kids. My mentor, the sound handler, and I set up all the equipment before anyone got there, including the monitor, tripod, video camera and lighting. So we got through that portion of the shoot very quickly. After the interview was over, the lady who was asking the questions needed to be interviewed as well. I got the opportunity to ask her a few preselected questions as my mentor filmed. Later, we stopped to grab a late lunch before we shipped the tape out at FedEx to the address we had been given. I am still putting in hours at my mentors’ production company as well, which has been fun. A few days later I did a project with the sound engineer at the studio, who runs my mentor’s company when my actually mentor, who is the owner, is on shoots that involved taking/uploading dozens of photographs to Final Cut Pro and creating a montage. This was for a family who had lost a loved one and wanted a reel of pictures on DVD to remember her by. My mentor and I went through songs that the family had requested to be put in the video and selected a few good ones. Later that day light my mentor needed for a shoot had broken so we needed to swap it out with a backup. I removed the speed ring from the light and reattached it to another one. I am learning a lot from my mentor and getting along with him very well.”

– Derek Sorenson, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Produce your own film.

“For my first official day with the Recording Connection, where I went into the studio for my first official day with my mentor. There were a lot of work in the industry, and got to meet with professionalism filmmakers. It is a great fundamental progress in my career, I have learned a lot so far from my mentor, as he is one of those types that hold onto true professionalism. As my Lessons progress with my mentor I have meet professional directions in New York, received professional appearances at them, and come early Summer 2013 and I will be directing the film and my mentor will produce it. Thank you really goes out to my mentor, as he has now granted me opportunity to get to get my success goal to move forward to the professional level. I’m proud of him as he is such very nice person. My mentor and I are planning for many project coming up I’m so excited, and thanks to my mentor he has given me all the trust to be his assistant 1st director, very proud, and looking to working hard and harder to accomplish my career to the professional level.”

– Nihad Shalabi, Far Rockaway, New York

Work in a working production company.

“I spent two days in the studio this week for Lesson 2, it was very exciting. We had a movie premiere at the beginning of the week, and I was assigned to be the Assistant Coordinator for the night. It went wonderfully! Two days later I ran the cameras for a job we had. It was for a client that had an internet class and I filmed her classes for most of the day. After that my mentor and I had a meeting with a group that pitched us an idea for a documentary and reality TV series. It went very well. This week was full of hands on experience. I loved it!”

– Taylor Giddens, Kennesaw, Georgia

Make your dream career a reality when you join the Film Connection.

“Today at the studio I was able to start entering dubs on to Excel and make some tape and shipping labels for all of them. I then made a priority list and put all of the client forms in order. The spots were for Credit Guard Spanish, Complete Classic Rock, 25th Anniversary Rock, Roll Hall of Fame, and Love Alive. The Formats were DVD, DVCPro25 Beta SP and the clients were Relient Media LLC, Revshare, Time Life, and Credit Guard of America. My mentor and I then moved on to have an in-depth discussion about the camera I have and if I would be able to make something substantial enough with it. I have a Sony Digital 8 Handy Cam and it runs HI8 tapes. Both of my mentors’ told me that it is mainly a consumer camera and not specifically used for professional purposes. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean it can’t be used to film. I also brought up that I have officially started work on a short film and they gave me pointers on where I should start looking for different things to improve the Production. One of my mentors’ gave me an amazing Website called Soundrangers.com, which is a lot of stock sounds that you can buy or get for free. This works amazing because they have everything you would need to start sounds you would not easily get on a low budget film. Talking about my short film with my mentor came about that my mentors’ also offered that if it came down to it I could use the V.O. booth at the studio for my film, which is amazing because that’s a huge asset if I really need a place to get the perfect kind of sound. The following day I went into the studio again, which turned out to be a short day, however, it put a fire in my step on working with my short film and now daily I am working towards the goal of putting it out there. I am really excited about the workbook the Film Connection assigned me because it is also in the directing portion and I’m learning a lot to prepare myself for my film and I can’t wait to start filming each and every scene. I love the studio the Film Connection has placed me in, as it is a real studio where I can learn and grow. It is also making me much more confident to start my own film projects alike the one I’m working on now. The Film Connection program has really been life changing because before this I was just working in retail.”

– Trent Jones, Austin, Texas

Work on your own scripts with the hands-on assistance of your personal mentor.

“This week my mentor and I started to finalize the Kickstarter account we started. We are just waiting on the synopsis for the script, which I just received. When I meet with my mentor next week we will put that in Kickstarter and submit the project. I showed my mentor the potential directors I had in mind and he liked one in particular, so we emailed him and he has responded back to use and I will soon send him the new script I have. My mentor and I also had another director in mind who he has actual worked with. We then went on an LA casting and submitted the two main characters. I have received many responses and have gone over them all. My mentor and I set up dates for audition and have scheduled the shot for the Film in roughly for exactly 3 months. We went over homework but I did not really have any questions because it was a really easy Lesson. So when we meet next week we should set up meetings with the directors and choose the actors for the auditions. We’re meeting on Tuesday after I get back in town from visiting my family in Utah. A thanks goes out to the Film Connection, which is so great. I have really learned a lot from what I already kind of knew before joining the program so I am just so happy that we are doing this project so I can see the process in which to take when producing a film. For me, hands-on is the best way for me to learn and that’s exactly what we are doing. I have no complaints this is an amazing experience. Thanks so much Film Connection.”

– Rachel Gentry, Denver, North Carolina

Learn how to work in professional filming environments.

“At the beginning of the week my mentor called me to advise he wanted me to come in earlier in the week than expected. My mentor was shooting a documentary on war vets that day and wanted me to get some behind the scene and production experience. After agreeing that I could come in, and that we would also go over and review my Lesson assigned to me by the Film Connection, after the shoot. As the day progressed with my mentor I realized that during the beginning, as well as the end of the shoot, there was a lot of time put into setting up as well as getting everyone settle down and deciding what was next. My mentor was head of the crew, then there was a man with the floating camera, another of my mentors controlled the shot another angles, and next to him was another employee holding the boom mic. From my observations today there is a lot of communication going on, as there are a lot of little errors due to lighting, positions and background noise that need to be fixed during a professional shoot. Mainly everything went smoothly though, and at the end of the shoot everyone was pretty tired. But I still continued to keep my energy up, continuing to assist my mentor and the staff with the cleanup of all the items as well as components put back in their secure places. As promised, once the shoot was wrapped my mentor and I went back into his office for our one-on-time review of my Lesson assignment. We went through this is great detail and I wrote every little bit down. Looking back on this day I really feel as though I have learned a lot from my observations, as well as assisting in the smaller tasks. Everything is really progressing great in the Film Connection program, as working with my mentor is great. He is easy to interact with, and it is just a pleasure to be there in the studio working with him”

– Huy Pham, Kent, Ohio

Watch your commercials go live on TV!

"This week my mentor and I went around Charlotte, North Carolina, getting footage that can be used for many projects we are working on at the production studio. Things like road signs, welcome signs, crowd shots, and the airport. It was great; I work directly with the productions, getting to operate the camera for most of the day. This actual shoot was supposed to be a green screen shoot for EZWay Auto Sales. However, it has been rescheduled for this Wednesday. Since no one else will be using the facility until then, we got to leave the green screen up. However, the lights were rented so we had to strike them and return them to the rental place. Afterwards all of this was prepared, my mentor and I sat down to have our one-on-one training for Lesson 8 assigned to me by the Film Connection program. Also, I really wanted to let the program know that I saw my 15-second edit of the EZ Way commercial on the Air! It was our local CBS affiliate showing it during The Mentalist. It is just so cool to see something I have done actually on Television!"

– Shane Killian, Stanley, North Carolina

Fine-tune your skills by working hands-on with the Film Industry professionals.

“I really have been enjoying my experience with this Film Connection program. I think it is definitely the one-on-one time I have with my mentor that helps out the most in my progression into the Film Industry. Not only this, but learning from someone who has done this type of work for a long time, alike my mentor, who is a true professional. I have had the pleasure of helping out on two short films and even a feature film which is REALLY exciting! This is definitely something I didn’t think I would be doing before I started this program. I have now also gained the confidence I need to make a feature film of my own. What really surprised me about the Film Connection was how far I have come within the program. Before the program, I thought that I could get in the industry with only my writing. However, now I know I have the skills to get a job in the industry, regardless the position. I had no idea how to light a scene and now I know that I can do it myself if needed to and my mentor is a great help in this process. Thankfully he is extremely patient and is, and will always be, there for me if I have, any questions, as he continues to currently do so. This is an experience that was worth every penny, and I will do it all over again in a heartbeat.”

– Andrew MacLean, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Travel with your mentor and his staff to various filming locations.

“I am having an awesome time in the Film Connection program. Last week I traveled with my mentors Company to Orlando, Florida where we filmed live broadcasts of ASUG News. They let me operate one of the cameras both days of the convention too, really working as part of their team! Now I am currently in Charlotte, North Carolina with a few crew members from my mentors’ studio until Friday for a Production. All in all I’m having a blast and learning a lot in the Film Connection.”

– Allison Miller, Oglesby, Illinois

Work hands-on, making connections in the industry, by joining the Film Connection.

"Today was unlike any other day so far in the Film Connection. So, I actually got to go to my mentor house today and see his majestic home. While there it was an eventful day. We had a photographer over to assist with an entire photo shoot. I was there the entire time working as part of the team. Then, after the shoot was completed, I was fortunate enough to meet his lovely wife and two beautiful children and really get a sense for what he is like outside of the studio as well. Next, we went into his private office and began forming my own business website, brainstorming on how it should look, as well as how my mentor and I wanted it to function in a way that’s best for me. Moreover, prior to today my mentor had given me a feature film to watch and report back on what I thought of it. It was a film that had circulated through a couple film festivals, and actually garnered some attention. After viewing it, I knew what to avoid in order to not be seen as an extremely amateur filmmaker, and made four pages of criticisms. I definitely felt like Francois Truffaut in the manner of being a harsh critic, in his early days as a critic at Cahiers du Cinema. My mentor also gave me his Variety magazines to read over, which I’m grateful for because I love keeping up-to-date with whatever is going on in the film and television industry. Moreover, guess what! My mentor gave me his first assistant job, which was to find contact information of certain executives in the television network. It was somewhat difficult to track down some of these important figure’s emails, but I seem to have done the task well. We discussed about my short ideas, and agreed that my first short will be too long, so now I am developing my second short."

– Steven Buchanan, Miami, FL

Receive film credits while enrolled in the Film Connection.

“During the week with my mentor I did transcribing for a film called “All Screwed Up”. It was actually kind of fun. It’s very tedious, however, I earned film credit for the project! That week part of the lesson was about script breakdowns. So Anastasia went over the process of how to complete a breakdown and explained that it’s necessary to keep the production organized and in budget. That week Wednesday, I accompanied the producers to a screening at the Friars Club. The film was terrible, to say the least. But I learned a lot about production value and what not to do to make my project bad. The following week, I finished transcribing the film and began the process of doing a breakdown for one of the studios projects, “Walking Dead.” Also my work on my mentors’ last film continues and this is something else I am earning film credit for. I’m enjoying working with both of my mentor, as they truly do give me a lot of responsibility and I’m treated like part of the Company.”

– Kristina Negri, Central Islip, New York

Become a full-time apprentice in a professional recording studio

“I went every single day this week. Monday I worked with my mentor on more commercials fixed numbers and words in it. The following two days were my apprenticeship days where I got to work on going through multiple commercials in order to make sure all the appropriate contact data was correct, as well as the Add Id’s and such, making sure they matched up with the correct ones on all documents. On Thursday I went to a film shoot with the other apprentice I work with every so often in the studio, as well as an actual employee from my mentors’ studio, who I worked with before early in the studio. I was introduced to a guy who taught me about lights, as well as the different lighting he was going to be using for the shoot. I got to time the lady who was being filmed and read along with what she was reading to make sure she didn’t miss any words and to ensure she said them correctly. Everything with my mentor is great. I love the way he teaches me things, making it easy for me to understand. To top it off, he is really good with working with me on different projects and such. I’m really enjoying it here and like that I get to learn new things each day every since I made the choice to enroll in the Film Connection.”

– Wyoming Kaut, Austin, Texas

Work on your own personal scripts with the professional film makers in the industry.

“In today’s lesson my mentor and I discussed more about the proper format structure when writing script for film and television. We discussed more about what makes the audience have interest for both the protagonist and antagonist in films. In this lesson I also showed my mentor my finished script for a movie idea that I had in mind when doing my first low budget film. After reading the script my mentor was very impressed on how I was able to write a script in perfect movie format with a story that was able to captivate his attention. He loved the script and gave me some excellent criticism which made me feel like I was actually writing movies for the big screen. All in all today was a great day and I enjoyed every bit of it.”

– Jonathan Raeford, Marietta, Georgia

Learn how to work on professional films.

“In going over Lesson 3 with my mentor I was surprised to learn that it is not actually the producer’s job to raise the money that is needed for production, but rather, the role is designated to the executive. Needless to say, the producer will be expected to hire on the best person for this job. My mentor and I agreed that trying to be a hero requires common sense and treading carefully. He explained an anecdote of his experience in being hero on the set of his first produced horror feature, the Attic. Just as the camera was about to roll for a heavily prepared shot, my mentor noticed that there was no entry wound, and that the camera would pick up on it. My mentor followed his gut and shouted his concern just as the director was prepared to roll the camera. It turns out that my mentor was in fact correct, and this risk was certainly appreciated. During this session, my mentor was also able to review a short film script that I had written, in the hopes of ultimately producing it under his guidance. My mentor had excellent, constructive criticism and suggestions about how to improve the story. He questioned some of the back-story, which helped me better understand the importance of logic and story-flow from another pair of eyes. I was very appreciative of his commentary, as I knew my story was missing some important elements. Tom also referred me to a 2-day, short film shoot. I gladly seized the opportunity to volunteer as a production assistant for both days. The objective of the short film is based on a 168-hour challenge, in which religious filmmakers are expected to produce a final-edited film in one week. The challenge begins when the filmmakers receive the theme of their stories; this year, the theme is “keeping promises.” The producers of the film were connected to my mentor through his last feature film, Sprawl. The whole production takes place at the producer’s house in Altadena, California. So day 1 of the film I arrived at the set at 9:30 AM and was greeted by the primary producer of the film. I met the DP and the 1st assistant director (AD), both of whom who turned out to be my direct bosses. In preparing for the first scene of the shoot, the 1st AD gave me an opportunity to be the clapper throughout the production of the film, therefore, making my title the 2nd AC for the production. Something which had amazed most people on the set, I was able to use an IPAD application for movie slates. My role required saying “Scene #, Take #” prior to each take. I was surprised to learn as much as I did just being designated as the clapper. This required coordination with the DP and the sound technician.”

– Jeremy Mosst, Miami, FL

Build your confidence with hands-on training from the experts.

“At the beginning the week when I got to my mentors house and we tested his new sound equipment, using it plugged into his Canon 60D. The sound was pretty good but there’s no headphone jack in his camera so it’s hard to monitor the sound while shooting a video. He also showed me a short film that was pretty cool. I don’t remember the name but the shots were really artistic and well lit!

A few hours later we drove over The Phoenix Restaurant in Bend, as my mentor had been asked to make another commercial for Bend’s Where to Eat Guide’s website. When we got there we sat down with the manager and figured out what we wanted for the commercial’s voiceover, then my mentor recorded that while I went outside and got some exterior shots of the restaurant. Once I was done with that I walked around and got some videos of the bar and the kitchen and staff interacting with customers. I used my new Canon T3i, and I was surprised and pleased with how comfortable and confident I was when I was getting the shots and changing the settings on my camera so that I got the best image. Once we had all the shots we needed we went back to my mentors’ house and he downloaded the footage that was on my camera to his computer.

A few days later I went over to have my session in Final Cut Pro. My mentor contacted a well-known studio to ask them to go over all the basics of editing with me, so I arrived at this new studio ready to learn. When I got there the engineer asked me about myself, and I told him that I’m just trying to learn all about filmmaking so that I can decide which area of it I’d like to go into. Then I asked him about his filmmaking journey. He went to film school in Seattle, WA, and then decided to open his own business and become a ‘commercial producer’, as in he makes videos commercially and goes out on hire. He recently went down to Argentina to make a feature length documentary about Malbec wine, which I was able to watch at the Bend Film Festival.

He then proceeded to show me his editing suite after we had talked for a few minutes. It had three huge computer monitors for him to edit with and then three TV screens for him to watch his edited footage on. It was awesome. He showed me a project that he had shot the previous weekend and had just finished editing. It was a commercial for a healthcare clinic. He then walked me through the steps he had taken during the editing process, showing me how he organizes his footage and ‘promotes’ clips to help narrow down what he wants to use. He told me to try to get as familiar as I can with all the shortcuts that can be used in Final Cut because it will save me lots of time and it’s very important to be able to edit quickly. He showed me some mistakes in the footage that he had to fix with Adobe After Effects and told me to become familiar with Photo Shop because After Effects is very similar to it. I did have some questions about video format which he answered thoroughly.

After showing me the basics of editing Sky talked for a while about how he learned about making videos and said that the best way to learn is to go out and shoot videos and then edit them and then, if I have any questions, figure out the answers to them by searching on the internet or looking in books or talking to people. I asked him about making the wine documentary and he explained how he went down to Argentina three times: once to do research, once to shoot the interviews with the winemakers, and once to get b-roll that enhanced what the interviewees said. He showed me how he stuck up about a thousand sticky notes on his wall when he was deciding how to shape the story for the documentary. He also told me to watch movies with a discerning eye, but, again, the best way to learn how to make movies is to actually make them, not necessarily watch them.”

– Korey Hehn, Prineville, Oregon

Learn from the professionals in the Film Industry.

“I arrived at the studio in the morning to everyone scrambling around the studio due to a shoot happening that very morning. The shoot was for a woman who was explaining the most efficient ways to shop and save money at different grocery stores around the country. I got to run the tele-prompter until we were done, which was roughly around noon. At that point, my mentors had to go to a business lunch at the Chamber of Commerce, so I spent that time reading and familiarizing myself more with the studio. When my mentors returned, we I discussed my homework assigned to me prior to the lesson plan that day, as well as our upcoming plans for the following day of training. I showed up at the office the next day at 6:45 am and quickly departed for Newberry, South Carolina. We had an all-day film shoot up there for a local hospital that has the best joint replacement program in the midlands. I was placed into the role of Assistant Gaffer under the supervision of a professional working for the shoot. He was a fascinating older man who had been running lights in the industry for decades. I learned a great deal from him, including some terminology that would otherwise have gone right over my head. We had multiple locations for the shoot, so by the end of the day I had become fairly efficient in the tear-down and set-up of the lighting equipment, as well as the terminology. Once the lighting was set-up at each location, I listened and watched as intently as I could to what my mentor, as well as the rest of the crew, including our cinematographer, were doing, while trying to stay out of their way. This day was an excellent first day crash course on what I will be doing over the next few months while enrolled in the Film Connection. I had a blast, learned a lot and, despite being exhausted by the end, cannot wait for more.”

– John Hamilton, Columbia, South Carolina

Assist your mentor on professional film shoots.

“This week my mentor showed me the studio in a very in-depth way, and I also got introduced to many more employees in the studio. I spent the day getting to know what tools we have in the studio and where certain equipment lives. Basically being informed as to the culture of the office and what types of services my mentors company provides. I got to help and PA, as well as Grip on a weekly shoot that was going on that day. During shoot I assisted the Director with gaffing and provided general help to the talent and crew. I continued on to learn more about KINOs and how their ballasts work. Afterwards, I wrapped and broke down equipment like a pro thanks to my PA experience my mentor had just given me. Along with their in house Gaffer/DP, my mentor taught me some very useful production tips. We spent the day learning tricks on building c-stands, moves every dolly grip should know, and swapping production stories. I also learned to mount a camera and tripod that I had never set up before. We set up their green screen and lit it for different purposes. I also learned more about the whys and how’s of those lighting techniques. I was able to see how the lit set looked through the camera, and how to adjust it for a better picture. The DP taught me the different names of their lights, uses, and their pros and cons. I've been really enjoying the company and its employees. Everyone has been very welcoming and willing to show me new things! The reading is more interesting than I first thought and I find it equally helpful to the hands-on training.”

– Jeremy Perez, Bronx, New York

Challenge yourself.

“In my first lesson with my mentor I started out by learning about the history of moving images on screen from its inception to modern day. During my mentoring sessions, I learned more about budgeting for a project, it was tedious, but I still enjoyed the process. It seems that everything that has to be meticulously budgeted for were things I knew. However, for some reason never thought about it. So, this has been an eye-opening experience. On my second day for the week with my mentor, I was introduced to a documentary project being tackled by the studio. I was given the task of finding footage and photographs of the subject pertaining to the documentary, compiling information from various sources. I didn’t think it would be so much work, but it’s difficult to not only find information on someone who has managed to stay elusive to the media, but also to track down the sources of the footage and figure out how to contact these people and obtain the proper rights and permissions to use it. I’m still working on this project and over all this week with my mentor I’ve started to understand how much work, effort, and sweat equity goes into pre-production. And although it’s a painful process, it’s a good kind of pain. Like my mentor said, it’s like being confronted with a mystery or a puzzle and figuring out how to solve it and once the pieces come together, it’s a good feeling knowing that you made that happen.”

– Kristina Negri, Central Islip, New York

Work with Industry Professionals

“For the past couple of weeks I have been helping my mentor with one of her films. I guess you can say that I am helping coordinate and run a group of animators who are working on some animations for this film she has in the works. I've had the opportunity to talk with both the director and VFX director and get acquainted with the project and what they expect or want at this particular point in time. Everything has been going great, we have a couple of animators who are working hard and are excited about contributing to the film. I am excited as well, I didn't think that I would be working on something this soon in the Film Connection. This is a really great experience and opportunity to further my knowledge in leading a group through this journey and contribute to the film’s success. I have also been reading the lectures and sitting in on my mentors’ conference calls with numerous people. Being able to watch and listen to her talk to directors and writers is really a big help as to how to work in building good relationships in this business. I had the opportunity as well to meet and talk to the director she worked with in the past and will work with in the very near future. I'm excited to see what we will do in our next meeting.”

– Iris Jauregui, Miami, FL

Jesse Valdez – Film Connection Graduate

My name is Jesse Valdez and I was born and raised in Riverside County, Los Angeles. I began my filmmaking career in High School, documenting several student activities leading up until the end of the year. After High School, I joined the Marine Corps Reserve and served for five years. Initially after graduating from the Marine Corps, I began working retail in Riverside. However, then I discovered the Film Entertainment Connection and found out a mentor for a film station that was located in the near vicinity of where I lived. I immediately joined the Film Connection and collaborated with my new mentor, who was a working professional Film Editor, cutting scenes for local commercials and documentaries, training me on all the equipment used to create the final product. Read More

Learn how to edit.

"Today my mentor and I started the day by going over all the ways to finish up a film project, such as using the right formatting, print to video, or editing to tape. On a side note, I have just finished the book the Film Connection assigned me and it feels really good. I've really got a lot of the basics down, and I know I'll get more comfortable with it as I continue working with hands-on with projects. Today was a little bit of a slower day at my mentors’ company and it turned out very beneficial because I got to spend more time on the lesson review with my mentor, as well as go over Final Cut. We also looked at some things in both Avid and DaVinci, which is what my mentor uses for color correction work. This was very cool because I like seeing all the different programs the experts use. The following day in the studio my mentor and I spent most of the day completing some editing projects. There were seven sections we finished up post on, and then encoded them to prepare for distribution. We also added some voiceovers to a hospital commercial my mentor has in the works, as well as began editing a few Verizon commercials as well. It was a pretty busy day in the commercial world!quot;

– Jacqueline Ort, Antioch, Tennessee

Learn all it takes to work in the film industry.

"Today I had the opportunity to meet with the director of the film my mentor has in the works, the film in which I have been helping coordinate the animators who are helping in this specific film. I had a chance to talk to him and ask questions about his career and the film. We worked together to come to some agreement on what he wants and how he wants things to be done. He is a great guy with a great sense of humor. He is, I imagine, everything a good director should be; easy to get along with, respectful and full of energy. It was a great pleasure to meet him today at my mentors’ studio. Being able to personally talk to the director was a great boost to my interest in this project and as to become a producer as well. I learned quite a bit from the time we had to talk and I'm sure that there is a lot more that I can learn, not just from him, but other directors. All the directors work and think differently so getting to know and interact with them helps me in the future. Between the lessons, and being in the studio with my mentor, I have learned more than I could have imagined and I am only half way through the lessons! And on top of this, my parents are up to date with everything I have been learning and doing. They are as excited as I am!quot;

– Iris Jauregui, Miami, FL

Learn how to work in a professional film studio.

"Today, I went to my mentors’ house, where I was helping with the shoot of a few commercials for a professional film. I was mostly filming behind-the-scenes footage. I have to admit at this point that I'm starting to see the fun in filmmaking. It's not every day that you get to film a girl with a Brooklyn accent flipping over a table. The commercials were really fun to make. The next day I went to my mentors’ studio, helping with the shooting of another commercial. This was the first time I got to see the use of what is called a TRI-ANGLE, which looks like a mix between a crane and a tripod. I kept imagining myself making great use of that in the future. The commercial we were shooting involved a Donald Trump parody talking to three of his employees about the most important things in business, including a guy who cleaned carpets. Once more, I couldn't help but feel the fun of filmmaking. The following day, once again, I went down to the studio to help with the commercial for the film my mentors’ has in the works, where they were shooting in infrared their warehouse with the lights out. I have to admit that it was pretty interesting conversing with other big film fanatics. Then the next day I helped with another episode of the Car Pro Show I have been working on in the studio. Once more, things went pretty smoothly; we got the web show recorded, we got three live shots out, and I even helped a bit with organizing lights in the back room."

– Curren Waters, Granbury, Texas

Work hands-on by joining the Film Connection.

"A great day in the studio with my mentor! I was invited to join a shooting set for a commercial for a local business, it was really good. It was a huge crew with lots of different equipment, and all kinds of interesting things. I was pretty much the Grip, anyone who needed help with anything, would tell me what they needed, and I would make sure it was done no matter what. I was busy all day running back and forth connecting cables, setting up lights, helping people out with whatever, this is the type of thing I've been waiting for. It took us all day to shoot and set things up, and by the time we had packed everything up when the shoot was over, it was really late, but that didn't bother me. Then, later that night, my mentor offered to drive me home, and we had our first real one-on-one conversation since I started this program. We ended up talking for about half an hour, maybe even more. We talked about what I was expecting from doing the Recording Connection program, and then he gave me a bunch of good advice and tips on how to work and behave on future shoots. He explained to me how important it is to standout on a crew if you want to make it in this business. We talked about other things and I was happy that we finally had a chance to really talk."

– Saul Kramer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Work on your own film with the help of the professionals in your industry.

"During this lesson with my mentor, I learned how to properly pitch my movie. I really need to tell my pitch in a way that will cause the listener to think “What if I was that character? What would I do?” I need to captivate the listener in the pitch and tell the story visually, in a three-act structure. It is very important in the pitch to know where the story is going. Another important aspect of the pitch is to express the tone of the film. My mentor and I talked heavily about my film, as well as the characters. My film is about a dinner party that goes horribly wrong when the hosts accidentally kill one of their guests. My mentor and I went into great depth trying to come up with ways to make the characters come to life and be relatable to the audience. My mentor that proceed to really help me adjust the structure of the story by making the beginning longer, which will let the audience fully understand and emphasize with the characters. He gave me great advice on how to come up with compelling beat points by constantly asking myself “What if I was that character in this situation? How would I react?” We decided that nothing in my film should be obvious. It will work better and be much more successful if the events in it are a surprise to the audience. Whenever I come up with an idea, I should go back to it and find other possible ideas that would be even more creative."

– Tucker Kloetzke, Coon Rapids, Minnesota

Curren Waters, Granbury, Texas

"Once again, I helped my mentor and his production team this week with the Car Pro Show went really smoothly. This time, we had two live shots, and my mentor showed me how to use the teleprompter. It was a fun experience, and the crew also helped clear out a bit of the studio's warehouse afterwards. I'm learning quite a bit from the Car Pro Show, which involves very specific areas on the film industry. For example, I'm learning how to wrap up a cord, how to use the teleprompter, and how to use their headsets."

– Curren Waters, Granbury, Texas

Work Hands-On with Your Mentor

"Yesterday I learned from in the studio with my mentor I learned how to sync sound in with video, and they even let me do it with an actual video my mentors are working on. It was a great lesson because the people who filmed the video made a mess for us trying to line up the sound. So because of this I learning with from something that was already messed up, which makes it a lot easier for me to do it next time when the video is done properly. I am having a great time with the Film Connection program!"

– Cory Venable, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Learn by doing.

"I have been so busy here at my mentors’ studio and have already read the entire book the Recording Connection assigned me, so I am way ahead in my reading! I have learned so much in the Recording Connection with my mentor in such a short amount time. This experience has been invaluable to me. First we reviewed my official lesson 1 assigned to me by the program, as well as launched final cut pro and keyboard shortcuts. We went over how the timeline works and how audio and video clips are displayed on the timeline. We also went over how to set up preferences. The very next day we covered scrubbing, keyboard shortcuts for play, pause and play backward. We went over the various ways to overwrite. My mentor has also taught me how to undo as well as how to insert clips and drag and drop. The following week I learned how to add tracks, adjust volume and move clips in the timeline. My mentor showed me how to change the track height with the toggle. I also now know how to create stills and change the speed of clips. Now I am currently working on the leftover footage from a car commercial that was given to me and working on my first rough cut. This is all very exciting and I am learning a lot."

– Amy Swider, Mandeville, Louisiana

Learn how to make movies with the guidance of your mentor.

"I just worked on a shoot for my mentor. It was for a zombie movie that my mentor and his team are putting together. I was a production assistant for the shoot. I did some pick-ups, worked with Grip & Electric, set design, and was even used as an extra in one scene. It was really a lot of fun. Also, I finished everything with the job on the show, The Voice, which the Recording Connection got me several weeks ago. It was truly a great working experience. I even got several of their information and have been keeping in touch with them in case any comes along."

– Jeff Woolf, Brooklyn, New York

Work with multiple mentors within the film industry.

"Today I was mostly working with Adobe after effects and learning how to use the program. I also did a few editing projects with my mentor to learn how and combine the two, with both of my mentors’ looking over me. I also watched one of my mentors’ edit recent footage they had shot on location and was also excited to share with them my videos I edited. I was able to go to a meeting offsite with my mentors’, and when there they discussed with a client how they were going to edit the video they had shot for them. It was fantastic to see how they worked in an environment with clients, and I was able to put in some input of my own as well"

– Nicholas Golias, Mayfield Heights, Ohio

Work with your mentors’ professional film equipment.

"This week at my mentors’ recording studio. I worked on a lot of inventory. Both of my mentors’ had me in the equipment room organizing and writing down all the pieces of equipment. At first I did not like it. But I then realized the whole point of doing it, which is to become familiar with the equipment and know what everything is, what it does, and when and how to use it. It became a very helpful learning exercise. I am now becoming more and more familiar with all the equipment. One of my mentors told me that if we are on a shoot, and he asks me for equipment, he doesn’t want to have to explain it to me, he wants me to know exactly what he’s talking about. I am almost finished with this inventory project, so this coming week, I can move on to different things. The homework the Recording Connection assigned me has also been a lot of fun. I am enjoying everything I have done so far in the program. Instead of reading just certain chapters in the books, I am reading them all to give me a better understanding of how to be a filmmaker. I am learning so much from these books and I cannot wait to continue learning from them, as well as my mentor."

– Jordan Cowan, Reisterstown, Maryland

Produce feature films with your mentor.

"I am now producing a feature film with Tom in September after finding a big financier! Also a three year deal has been made and I will be on board with Tom for those years and most definitely many more. I am forever grateful for this program to give me this opportunity to let me shine my talents. Today I will be turning in my final assignments to Tom which means I will have completely all the assignments from the book. Tonight I will be meeting with another filmmaker who is involved with the production with the film in September, kind of a meet and greet with the other producers and such."

– Steven Buchanan, New York, NY

Work on your very own professional filming footage.

"Today was fantastic. Upon arriving to my mentors’ studio, he and I talked about me practicing using the camera and equipment by myself, to learn the techniques of panning, tilting, etc. that they had already taught me. After a brief trial run on the top of the nearby parking garage, my mentor set me out about Akron to gather footage and clips of the city. I was filming for about 3 hours, and collected a lot of footage of the sights and sounds of the city. After coming back, he explained how I can start my own project, in essence a “tour of Akron” video that I would be able to do by myself on their computers and mine at home. We looked at the clips I gathered, and organized them into bins like they had showed me. I left feeling excited that I was actually going to be doing a project of my own so early on in my internship."

– Nicholas Golias, Mayfield Heights, Ohio

Learn how to run large-scale events.

"Over the weekend my mentor and I attended a Convention for the New Mexico State Bar. We drove up to Santa Fe to the Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino. We had to set up equipment in an auditorium, as well as five other smaller rooms. I also set up many lights, speakers, cords, mixers and other equipment. My mentor had me shooting panels and presentations in the main auditorium with him. He also had me operate the two cameras we had set up in the auditorium to film the main presentations so my mentor could switch between images on the two massive projectors. Then I set up an entire room for an award ceremony, before running to set up lighting and sound under a tent outside. I really enjoyed having the responsibility of handling half of the filming on my own for three days straight. My mentor and his other engineers said they were really impressed with me, which was pretty awesome to hear. On a side note, my mentor has been letting me take one of his video cameras on weekends so I can practice."

– Derek Sorenson, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Receive hands-on experience from the professionals in the film industry.

"Upon arriving to my mentors’ studio this week, I was warmly greeted by my mentor and his business partner as well. We briefly overviewed what my experience would be like, and then the both of them looked at my homework and study book the Film Connection assigned me. After discussing their business model and listening to a few business calls, they showed me the current projects they were working on. After that, my mentors’ business partner went over the lessons I had previously read on their Mac that has Final Cut Pro installed. It seemed simple, and my mentors’ business partner was great because he was letting me use previous footage of theirs to help with my work. The most exciting part was discussing with the two of them on how I can work ahead of the book assigned to me by the Film Connection, and if we can get the book out of the way in a reasonable time, but not too fast so I don’t get confused, the rest of the 6 months could be spent working on projects with them for my entire tenure there. The first session was a huge success, and I am looking forward to the next 6 months I will be spending in the Film Connection program."

– Nicholas Golias, Mayfield Heights, Ohio

Secure a job with your mentor with the opportunity provided to you from the Recording Connection.

"I got the opportunity to meet up with my mentor at a café and caught up on all the news my mentor had for me. We discussed the new plans for my short film my mentor and I are working on, as well as a future job for me, already on top of the development executive work I have been doing for my mentor already. There are very exciting things are happening, which I could not be more grateful for. I took a big risk leaving my home and moving to where my mentor was located, and I am on my way to big rewards because of this."

– Steven Buchanan, New York, NY

Learn what it takes to successfully produce a film.

"Sunday was a big day for the side project I have been working on with my mentor. After last week’s fiasco while trying to get a few scenes shot, I really focused this week on preparation. I learned the importance of being truly ready, and I wanted to put it to use and make this weekend an efficient day of filming. The goal was simply to shoot the climax of our episode, and I had everything I could think of ready to go before the cast got together. My mentor and I had scene maps, written outlines of the shots, and storyboards, as well as a preparation list written out for every person in the cast. On the set, I realized how smoothly everything can run if the preparation is thorough enough. Sure there were some hiccups, as filming is still hectic in nature. However, everything my mentor and I hoped to accomplish was accomplished. I feel very proud of the product we have after Sunday’s shooting"

– Abe Purvis, Shelbyville, Indiana

Use your mentors equipment outside of the studio.

"I have been working at my mentors Company all month as usual. I am now getting many more opportunities to edit every week thanks to my mentors’ help. Recently I got to borrow one of my mentors’ cameras, a Sony, dvx 100. I took it over an entire weekend while I was rock climbing and hiking. I outfitted a backpack with padding to securely transport the video camera with me. I was able to get some interesting shots and plenty of practice with the camera. And, even on father’s day my mother and I went to visit my grandfather, and the rest of the family. I shot some film of my grandfather reflecting on family memories and enjoying the small reunion. I still have the tape and plan on putting together a DVD when I begin to learn editing."

– Derek Sorenson, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Learn more and more as the Recording Connection program progresses.

"I have learned a lot of little things that I wouldn't have even thought of without the training from my mentor. He showed me a number of cool keyboard shortcuts and tricks on the timeline. I always come out of my sessions that I had with my mentor feeling 100% smarter than I was going in to the session. This week, my mentor and I worked on a project that he had been working on, which was a wedding reception. He had me work with some of the footage, taking out parts that I thought he could use for a music video for the wedding couple. Next, my mentor went through and had me watch as he did his thing with the project, explaining everything very well. I wrote every single thing down and have been studying it. I am truly in love with this program and what I continue to learn in my mentors’ studio. I believe that my mentor is fantastic, as he teaches me a lot, and even in one session, I come out learning so much. I am eager to see what’s next."

– Luke Knolla, Wichita, Kansas

Work with a real life radio station from the experts in your field.

"Today was my second day with my mentor. First, my mentor and I reviewed the reading the Film Connection had assigned me. Next, I started in the control room and monitored the 11 o’clock news from there. I also even had the chance to go to the news set while it was currently on air. I really got the chance to meet a lot of people today and the systems they work on. My mentor and I are getting along very well and she really knows what I need to have in order to be a good news director. Plus, she is giving me the information and the accesses for this."

– Sameer Hijazi, Miami, FL

Take control of your future with the assistance of the Film Connection

"My whole experience has been so good with the Film Connection program. If you reach out and take matters into your own hands, opportunities will come. I've learned a lot of valuable things from the program, and my mentor so far, and I really appreciate every interaction. One thing that I’ve learned that sticks out is that you really have to be a people person, with a real drive in the film business, in order to succeed."

– Steven Buchanan, New York, NY

Prepare yourself for a successful future in the film industry.

"I am really glad I made the decision to be in the Film Connection program and it really has been a turning point in my life. I love the reading that the Film Connection assigns, and on the business end of things with my mentor, it is amazing because I am learning so much! The more time I spend with my mentor, the more I just feel so comfortable with everything. My mentor is awesome and his company is moving forward with many projects, so it’s the perfect time to be at this studio, working as an apprentice for my mentor. I really love working in my mentors’ studio and thank you to student services for keeping in touch with me at all times."

– Trent Jones, Austin, Texas

Learn the importance, and the skills needed, to market yourself to your target audience

"Today with my mentor, he taught me the different methods of advertising, which was extremely important to understand. My mentor told me all the different aspects of how to get the audience’s attention when advertising, as well as what happens when the audience ignores the advertising. Later on that day, I was assigned an actual script and had to actually point out the flaws, character breakdown, storyline, plot, and settings. My mentor, as well as all the other advisors within the company, are great. I am learning a lot, and it’s only my second week in the Film Connection program. I am starting to realize almost every aspect in the industry!"

– Harpal Bola, Las Vegas, NV

Team up with the Recording Connection students and create your own films

"This Saturday, with my mentor, I am exciting to be working as a Production Assistant for another Film Connection student's short film. Also, I’m really excited because I'm polishing up a script I wrote. And my mentor is going to check it out, and he already said he likes what he has heard about it so far. So, hopefully we can get something going for my own script. Saturday was a great day with my mentor! I loved being a PA on the short film my mentor is working on. I got to meet a ton of cool and talented people. I love working with my mentor! He is so unbelievably nice, always very encouraging, and supports everything I want to accomplish, always giving me lots of input and suggestions. This is such great help, since he has a vast amount of experience. I’m very excited for what lays ahead… thank you the Recording Connection."

– Aaron Gilmore, Phoenix, AZ

Get hands-on experience in the film industry

"Today my mentor was test shooting a documentary they are working and I got to assist in setting up the set. I worked with c-stands and Duventy, which is black covering. After that I posted ads to several websites, spreading the word about the green screen space and audio/recording stations my mentor has. I’m very pleased to report that I’ve gone back every day since then to work on this film. We have now finished the documentary, which will be released shortly. I was taught how to send out press releases promoting the movie, which is very important for the success of the film. I was even able to observe one of the head staff editing a video they had shot. It was really great and since then, I have been doing a lot of research for them. I really do feel like this is good hands-on experience provided through the Film Connection. I enjoy working on the shoots my mentor has."

– Jeff Woolf, Poquoson, Virginia

Learn what is required to shoot your own film.

"My mentor is great. He is a very friendly person with a lot of insight and knowledge of the film industry. Every time I meet up with my mentor, I got be fired up and energized again. When I speak with my mentor, it reminds me what I want. I want to be a filmmaker. Not just a film director…I want to make things happen and turn an idea or a script into something great. I have shot my short film and now my mentor and I are already planning my next low budget film. Things are going great with my mentor and this week I had a meeting with him and we went over all the props, crafts, and the crew for my short film."

– Aaron Gilmore, Phoenix, AZ

Work on successful television series with your Recording Connection mentor!

"My mentor invited me to go with him on a promotional shoot of an HBO series! I went with him to a location in New Orleans and observed him, as well as the other crew. I also helped with carrying things, put papers together for the production manager, and was a stand in wherever assistance was needed. I learned a lot of the terminology and the lingo that is used on a shoot. It was a great experience and I learned a lot out of it. It was great! My mentor was very helpful and we are getting comfortable with each other. He even actually brought his digital camera along and had me take pictures of the set, as well as some behind the scenes stuff. Being out there on a set for so long actually gave me a feel of what it was like to have their jobs. Everyone was so nice and helpful it couldn't have gone any better!"

– Abigale Liberto, Mandeville, Louisiana

Secure yourself a job with your mentor with the help of the Film Connection.

"For my sessions my mentor he had me take the film I digitized from our shoot at Kirtland Air force Base, and organize it with Final Cut Pro. I followed instructions he had laid out on his desk, editing spots that were unnecessary, and areas that were in need of shortening. I worked on that project all day and was able to get a lot more experience with Final Cut. My mentor had me working like crazy the next day as well, since we were overloaded with work and the Company has so many projects. Later that week, my mentor and I had a discussion on how he plans on buying into a public-access television show, in which the show will have to do with a MD who is finding natural ways to promote good heath or heal the body. My mentor even said if the deal goes well he will have a lot more work for me in the near future!!"

– Derek Sorenson, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Develop your relationship with your mentor to provide opportunities for your career.

"Wow, what a great first session with my mentor! We kicked it off the session by talking about what we’ve been up to for the past week, and we really connected and laughed a lot. We’re starting to get closer on a personal level as we get more and more comfortable with each other. We talked about what genres I feel would best suit my style of film, and then we talked about specific directors in those genres that I liked. My mentor even showed me pictures of him standing next to some of my favorite directors! I was in quite awe how close my mentor is to some of these important figures. We covered what I should be expecting soon, such as website building, writing coverage’s for scripts that my mentor had sent me, studying specific film shorts, and to begin developing my short idea even further. Moreover, he mentioned I will be potentially helping out on a set soon, which really got me excited! Overall, I could not have asked for a better first session with my mentor. I cannot wait to further develop and strengthen our professional and personal relationship."

– Steven Buchanan, New York, NY

Learn how to run a successful film studio with the help of your mentor.

"The first day with my mentor was an awesome way to start out the Film Connection program. I felt like I was more a part of a team while learning, instead of being a part of a school while learning. While my mentor was busy with a major project, another engineer in the studio, whose title is president, had me watch an infomercial. I had to watch a check to make sure the phone numbers were correct, and also check to make sure the video played smoothly without any glitches. All the while I was watching the video, I was asking as many questions as possible to get myself more acquainted with the equipment. My mentors’ studio has a lot of clients, and for some they do every part of the process from filming on, and with others clients, they do minor editing in order to send them out to different studios. It was an amazing first day and I learned so much that I just wanted to stay and help out as much as possible and learn as much as possible."

– Trent Jones, Austin, Texas

Make valuable networking connections in your mentors’ studio.

"Today with my mentor was a day where another apprentice and I got right to work on dubs, editing in sound, and changed the numbers for the commercials we have been working on for our mentor. The other apprentice and I switched out on the edits and sometimes I would be working on the tapes to have them recorded, while he would edit the commercials… we had a really good flow going. After we finished working on the commercials, my mentor showed me a clip that had a static glitch on one of the frames and he showed me how to take out the frame and duplicate the frame, with the ending result looking perfect and without any error. Then, one of the original founders of the company came in to do some voice over work for a commercial, so it was really cool getting to meet him. I was able to edit his voice into a rock and roll concert commercial, and also had it ready to be shipped out. In a way, this was my first networking experience because the founder gave me his card and told me to send some things that he could critique so he would give his honest opinion. This was an amazing connection to make out of my mentors’ studio."

– Trent Jones, Austin, Texas

Make your own film with the guidance of your mentor.

"The Film Connection program was a real eye opener. I learned all kinds of stuff from my reading the program provided me, including the entire history of film. This really helped me get an idea of how every step in filmmaking works. Also, the list of 100 movies to watch, which the Film Connection provided me, was great! It got me to watch some movies that I would NEVER watch otherwise, but I’m glad I did. It has been really cool to look back on when I first began with the Film Connection. As the months passed, I learned more and more. Then, with the guidance of my mentor, I have now seen my own short film come to life. From pre-production to the shooting day. Now we are going to edit it all. The process was cool and such a fun to experience."

– Aaron Gilmore, Phoenix, AZ

Work Closely With the Production Team

“Today my mentor and I met at the audition studios in Hollywood to recruit actors for my mentors’ film. We are very close to the shooting date, and I just recently met with the cinematographer, and we went to the location to further discuss shot angles. I enjoy working with my mentor, and his film, very much. My mentor is a very busy person, but always makes time to see me for a lesson. He also enjoys horror movies alike myself, which I think is pretty cool.”

– Richard Cruz, Castaic, California

Look Towards the Future

“Today my mentor and I met and discussed the five directors I chose to write about. I really really enjoyed this assignment because I had the opportunity to share my ideas about my favorite directors. My mentor and I discussed the styles they are famous for, as well as their well known films. I can learn from this because I am an upcoming director and I will need my own trademark style. I'm very excited and thankful for this opportunity that the Film Connection has provided me with.”

“I am enjoying the Film Connection very much and I feel that I am getting the most out of this school.  When my mentor and I discussed the casting of his current horror film, my mentor actually considered contacting an actor from my all time favorite horror film.  I said to myself, "is this for real?  Can I actually have the chance to direct the main actor in my favorite horror movie?"  My mentor also believes that I will have the chance to get access to film sets in the future.  My mentors’ confidence boosts mine in that I believe this is all going to work out in the long run.”

– Richard Cruz, Chicago, IL

Don't Go it Alone

“We talked about the different genres.  My mentor discussed with me the importance of having a writing partner.  With genres, my mentor says that it isn’t necessary to pigeon-hole yourself into one genre.  He suggested writing from the inception of an idea and seeing what you can come up with.  And remember, don’t forget to use a writing partner or someone who can be an extra-pair of eyes to the script.”

– Janna Russell, Sharpsburg, Georgia

Learn to work with historical film footage.

“This week I have been working on graphics, gathering stock footage for a movie me and my mentor are working on. The movie has to do with the Holocaust, so I made both the movie poster and the DVD sign, which my mentor has chosen to use so far. It's interesting, as well as graphic, since the actual footage we are using is from the Holocaust. The relationship between me and my mentor is well. I find my mentor asking my opinions, as well as using my suggestions, as I have had some good impact on the film my mentor is currently working on.”

– Brian Jackson, Cleveland, OH

Learn what niche you want to focus on in Film, then gear in on it.

“I’m very excited about the upcoming weeks with my mentor. Starting this Saturday, I will be running the camera for my mentor when she teaches her acting class for children. This is in order to give me extra practice using the camera. I will be doing this every Saturday, and possibly even on Wednesdays. I’ve been making more and more contacts with the people I’ve met and feel it will be a great benefit after my course completion from the Film Connection.”

– Ryan Power, Lincoln Park, MI

Learn about the importance of understanding the history of film.

“During my very first meeting with my mentor, I brought the answers in from the questions given in the Film Connection book. My mentor broadened my horizons as to the history of film, talking more specifically about every question in great depth. After this meeting I was so happy that I sang all the way home. I don't usually sing, because I can't… so imagine my overwhelming happiness to be in the Film Connection!”

– Makary Janowski, Detroit, MI

There is no better way to learn than by doing

“Starting this Saturday I will be running the camera for my mentor when she teaches her kids acting class, which is in order to give me extra practice on the camera. I will be doing this every Saturday and possibly even on Wednesdays. I’ve been making more and more contacts with the people I’ve met and feel it will be a great benefit after my course completion.”

– Ryan Power, Lincoln Park, MI

Put yourself in the shoes of others

“Today I went over lessons 8 and 9 with my mentor, and then took a fundamentals class on acting, which I’ve been doing the past month to get an understanding of what the actors’ process is like. I’m also very excited about the upcoming weeks.”

– Ryan Power, Lincoln Park, MI

Don't go it alone

“We talked about the different genres. My mentor discussed with me the importance of having a writing partner. With genres, my mentor says that it isn’t necessary to pigeon-hole yourself into one genre. He suggested writing from the inception of an idea and seeing what you can come up with. And remember, don’t forget to use a writing partner or someone who can be an extra-pair of eyes to the script.”

– Janna Russell, Sharpsburg, GA

Devin Connelly – Film Student (Camera)– Plano, Texas Recently, I have begun working the camera for a few live interview shoots. This has involved basic camera operation, microphone checks, and carrying out instructions on setting up the shot. This has been a great experience being involved in the fast-paced and time sensitive action that a live shoot entails…Read More

Film Student Sees Action Behind and In Front of the Camera in Music Videos!

When Andre Perry entered Entertainment Connection's Film program, he had no idea he'd be working both behind and in front of the camera! The first video, Clipse, Rosoe and Pharrell's song "Hot Damn," features Pharrell Williams and Ab Liva. "I was a P.A. (production assistant) on the set, but that's not all," Andre explains. "In the video I play a police officer. It was directed by Benny Boom." Read More…

Film Student Works On Historic Gospel Documentary!

When Entertainment Connection Film Division graduate Alex Lee was searching the Internet last year, he had no idea how quickly he would become immersed in the film and video industry. But once he got rolling, his career really took off! Read More…

Film Student Brett Taylor Climbs Ladder of Success!

After signing up with Entertainment Connection, Brett was serving his apprenticeship at Crossing Studios, one of western Canada's largest film and video production houses. His mentor, president and producer Dian Cross, runs the company, which has a distinguished client roster including Disney, Chevron, Mattel, Toyota, Sony, and many, many others. Read More…

Film School Graduate Finds Real Success Through Entertainment Connection

When Federico Marchetti entered San Francisco State's prestigious 4-year film program, he knew for sure that he wanted to work in the industry. Unfortunately, their system did not allow for the kinds of opportunities he wanted. "At S. F. State, there are so many students that you can't be as expressive as you would like to be," Federico recounts. "You actually make a movie in 'a team.' So by the end of the program, I still didn't even have my own demo reel." Read More…

Entertainment Connection Student Jay William Bruce Works With Will Farrell And Ed Harris

"Even though I was working in the theater business, I didn't know how to cross over to the film industry," he explains. "Entertainment Connection seemed like a terrific way to do it." Jay met with their Entertainment Connection mentor, and entered the program. While most students like to jump right into film projects, Jay pictured… Read More…

Film Student Sean Chou Is Going Places Thanks To His Mentor, Mars Callahan